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Livermore's Altamont Creek Elementary School was among the Bay Area campuses visited by top officials in school sustainability, environmental infrastructure, nutrition and school facilities from the U.S. and California departments of education.
The government leaders were joined by other state, local and school officials at the campus on Sept. 20 as part of the 2023 Green Strides Tour, which highlights schools, districts and postsecondary institutions that have exceptionally promoted health, implemented cost-saving measures related to environmental practices and created sustainable school environments, according a statement from the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District.
As a 2022 recipient of the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon School recognition, Altamont Creek was one of only 10 educational institutions selected for this year's Northern and Central California tour.
Those in attendance for the tour were guided through a variety of stations — led by students, staff and members of community organizations — that illustrated the many ways Altamont Creek has made environmental education part of its culture.
"We were excited to have students from our Green Team lead our stations, as they are well versed in our environmentally-conscious practices. These students lead by example and help to train and educate our younger students so that our sustainability practices are sustainable themselves," principal Andrea Tapia said in the statement.
At Station 1, students explained their understanding of waste reduction and, along with support from Livermore Sanitation and StopWaste, challenged attendees to properly sort items into compost, recycle and landfill containers.
Station 2 included a visit to the school garden, also a certified wildlife habitat, where students shared about growing fresh fruits and vegetables, the importance of worm composting and their process for collecting temperature and air quality data.
The third station focused on health and wellness with students demonstrating how mindful breathing can help with emotional regulation. Volunteers with Teaching Opportunities for Partners in Science discussed at Station 4 how weather and climate change awareness is shared with students and families at family science nights, and gave visitors a look inside a mobile planetarium.
Lastly, at Station 5, students and Quest Science Center volunteers helped guests build sail cars and engage in hurricane simulations that demonstrated the importance of renewable energy and the necessity of building structures capable of withstanding Earth's changing climate.
"Today was an example of the power of hands-on learning. When our students are given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and share their knowledge with others, they shine. I am continually amazed by their poise and understanding," science teacher Fenna Gatty said following the event.
The school district praised the school's staff and leadership who have prioritized the adoption of "green" practices as well as Altamont Creek's network of community partnerships, including StopWaste, Livermore Sanitation, Fertile Groundworks, Quest Science Center, Tri-Valley Air Quality Climate Alliance, TOPS Science, Horizons, Livermore Area Recreation and Park District, Center for Environmental Health, Kat Weiss Landscaping and Patti Cole from Friends of Springtown Preserve.
"We recognize how fortunate we are to have such a supportive and generous, science-focused community. The community partners who came out today were not just here for the tour spotlight; they are valuable partners that continually give of their time and resources to help educate our students and families," LVJUSD Superintendent Chris Van Schaack said.
